Forming of welts in straight knitting machines



Nov. 2l, 19(44. vA. HOFMANN ET AL 2,363,000

FORMING OF WELTS IN STRAIGHT KNITTIN MACHINES Filed Feb. 23, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR EYS Nov. 2l, 1944. A. HoFMANN ET AL FORMING oF wELTs 1N sTRAiGHT KNITTING lvmcHINEs4 Filed Feb. 23, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www@ S1.

E MQW m a QT J S uw 1.- l-

ATTORNEYS n Nov. 21, 1944. A, HOFMNN ET AL 2,363,000

FORMINGOF WELTS IN STRAIGHT,KNI'1 TING MACHINES Filed Feb. 23, 1959 l 0 5 sheets-sheet 4,A

lll/1 l I (il- /Z INVENToRs ar BY FJQLWM'L YnoMAA-vUKmc/q ATroRNEYs.

Nov. 21, 1944.

A. HvOFMANN ET AL FORMING OF WELTS IN STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 23, 1939 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToRs A. HOFMANN 2 piemntforj bautr: needlewooperatingi anis" for.

of failure of operation, or of `iamage. F

Patented Nov. 21,

,.f UNITED STATE FoRMrNG oF WEL'rs 1N STRAIGHT m'rTlNG MACHINES Alfred Hofmann, Palisade, and Friearieh Max Wachtler, West New York, N. J.` assignors to Alfred Hofmann, Inc.

West New York, N. J., a

corporation of New Jersey Application Febrnal'y23kzz1939, Serial No. 251,772

67 Claims.

This invention relates to the forming of welts in straight knitting machines, of the kind having a united bank vof needles. The improvement has particular reference to the flat knitting of fullfashioned stockings wherein, 'after hooking-up the lrst course or courses, -a predetermined length of fabric is knitted at lthe top of the leg, several inchesin extent, which'is then turned or folded back and, during a pause in knittingor between the laying of courses, has' its initial loops looped 'back again upon the needles so as to be incorporated inthe next knitted course, the fabric being thus formed into a double fabric or Welt, the

iirst'and last courses of which both become locked with the loops of the next succeeding course. The

-` r'ivention includesthe method to be described :and .the means and mechanismjfor carrying it outa It;is well'gknown practice inthe hosieryart to the "welt, that is, the'inik h, vpltfabric oriweb andloopitupon The row of welt hooks or'loop" hold.

laments;oninstru'xrIentS,includingseries'ofsvelti holders, orgsinke'r 'and'. knockovera or bits. I'Y The *f present invfentio pertains vvmore particularly the'mode-otcoperation vof they weltfor'mingim hooks" with the! needles-and Fig.' .1'l Vis "a 'general right-hand f ull fashioned stockingagknittin'g-,fmachine em' s bodying the present invention-,"theknitting in In the standard prevailing'types of machines certain methods and means have been proposed for the mounting and mechanical operation of the welt bar. Substantial diillculties nua "manipuietien'jpfa bank e st for the hookingj-un-and theri'to'v (ci. ca -96) 1 V which maybe{partlymanual'orsemieautomatid 'butispreferablysubstantital1y 4a the initial loop of. hooksrelatively. to

i nail'. Soi that the length-:et the slightest inaccuracies tending not only to impairthe operations but to cause clash and frequent injury to the instruments.

The general object of .the present inventionis to render automatically exact and relabletlie several movements ofy thewelt bar and its bank i the needles and other in.-

strumentarjand to provide proper. -'ttings for tile,`

wlfrlbarimzanwsuch movements., 'magma-t7, s n putting it through the m0ye ng; connections for'.

Inthe accompanyingdrawings, 1 I-v struments f in. 'small-:scale being shown conventionally andi in an initialor .idle position orstage A ofbperatiomto bef described,` as for example f `before knitting ha's commenced;.'and for conhave not been satisfactrily met in the welt formexactitude, absence of 'which may be the csuse t her vemenee .the 1eft`side o f this ngure win beeensidered the front side of. v'the machine, being the side toward which the knitting progresses and is more readily observed.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. l, with the parts however in the later stage or position D gut with the fabric omitted; the machine may have many knitting units or sections',- Figl -2 showing the extreme right hand unit, and a small portion of the next adjacent unit, both-being broken away for condensation oi thel ligure.

elevation of Fig. 3 is a section view taken on the section line 3-3 of Fig. 2 or Fig. 4 looking from the front, but extending only p-art of the length of the section line on Fig. 2. Fig- 4 is a section view taken on the section lined-4 of Fig'. 3, looking from the right. Figs. 3 and 4` are on a larger scale than Figs. l and 2, and they show the same stage or position A of the parts as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking from the right, and on the same takeup.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the welt bar and its adjacent mountings, in the same position D as in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a section view taken on the line l-'I of Fig. 6, looking from the right, the parts being in the same stage or position D, but certain parts being shown also in broken lines in position M to be described. Fig. 8 is a section view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6 or Fig. 7, looking from the front, with the parts in the same position. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are all on the same scale, larger than that of Fig. 2.

Figs. 9 to 17 inclusive constitute a ,series of diagrams in left elevation showing the preferred movements of the principal knitting instruments f erating in the same plane, can'relatively pass each other.

Fig. 18 is a detached view of a portion of the bearded needle illustratively used with the pres- Y ent invention; and Fig. 19 is a similar view of a.

portion of the illustrated welt hook; these being more or less conventional, and it being understood that other .forms of needle or welt hook can be used. Fig. 20 shows amodied construction of welt hook and welt bar having special advantages.

.l0 scale therewith, showing details of the fabric Figure 21 is an enlarged sectional view showing -thecombination and association of elements constituting the welt forming and turning .mechanism and particularly illustrating the cooperative relation of the welt bar carriage assembly and the automatic means for controlling the lifting and lowering movements thereof tovpreposition the welt hooks in relationto the needles. Figure 22 is a detail showing in .elevation of the parts cooperating to effect the tilting swinging movements of the welt bar. f

Before describing the details lof the mechanism shown on Figs. 1 to 8 the diagrams Figs. 9V to 17 and subsequent figures will be referred to, rst by describing the principal instruments cooperating in the knitting and welt forming, which mostly are shown also on Figs. 1i to 8. The yarn laying carrier and various other groupsof parts are wholly omitted as being well understood.

The needles 20 are shown of the spring beard type, with the beards 2| at the rear. In the usual knitting machines the needles stand substantially upright, and will be so considered for description purposes. The beard is at the top end. the. extremity of which is considered the apex of the needle. As usual the needle may have a groove 22 in its shank, Fig., 18, to receive the tip of the beard when pressed into it at certain times. I5

' back to the knitting needles.

At their lower ends the needle butts 23 assist the clamping of the needles in the usual needle bar or bed 24 (Figure 1). The bar and needles go through various conventional movements, upward and downward, frontward and backward. These may be of one kind during knitting effected by a usual actuating `and control or cam mechanism. The needles and cooperating sinkers and knockovers may have a second kind of actuation, with movements known as narrowing motions, caused by a different set of cams, as usual. This special narrowing motion may be muchV slower than the regular knitting motion, for example with one cycle or main cam shaft rotation in about five seconds, as 'against about one second for regular knitting. This narrowing cycle or motion of needles, sinkers and knockovers may be utilized for the welt forming operations indicated by the diagrams, Figs. 9 to 17.

The sinkers 26 may be conventional, each with its yarn-engaging throat 0r notch and a front extension or nose. As usual, the sinkers are separately slidable frontwardly during the laying of the yarn in each course,.being pushed frontward in succession by a traveling cam or slurcock (not shown) acting through jacks which thrust upon the rear ends of the sinker shanks 27. The bank of sinkers may consist of regular sinkers alternated with Special sinkers or dividers, all as conventionally understood.

The sinkers may be mounted slidably in the usual head or multiple slideway 28. This sinker head or block may be in xed position in the machine, and a front-portion ofit, adjacent to the sinker noses, may be extended sufficiently frontwardly to constitute a beard presser 29 or pressedge, ytaking part in the knitting and transfer operations at certain stages of the movements of the movable instruments.

' Cooperating with the bank of united needles and bank of separate sinkers is a corresponding bank of united knockovers orbits 3 l, these being notched members, usually mounted on a bar 32 by which they are put through certain frontward and rearward and perhaps other movements at a level just below the series of sinkers.

During-welt forming these described loop-forming instruments 20, 26, 29 and 3|, cooperate with .the series or bank of united welt hooks 33, the latterreceiving the ilrst formed loops, retaining and retracting them frontwardly during the knitting of the welt, and 'then restoring such course Each welt hook may be of conventional construction as separately shown in Fig. 19 or may be modified in various ways, for example as in Fig. 20. This welt instrument has a hook end 34, and its shank has a groove 35 engageable by the .needle beard during transfer, and beyond suchgroove it has a shoulder or hump 36 constituting a stop or limit to the slipping of a loop along the `-sh'ankfand at the far end a butt 31. The welt hooks are clamped by their shanks and butts ina welt bar 38, from which they project in parallelism. 1

The weltI bar 38 isfitted to be movable in various ways by means of mountings to be described, and with the bar and mountings are combined mechanism and connections for causing such movements, namely upwardly and downwardly, rearwardly and frontwardly, tiltingly to change the posture of the welt hook, and also transversely of the direction of knitting, for slight offset shift- A ings to bring the several welt hooks either into modified hook 33* or Fig.

tively to the welt bar ments, the needle,

the fore-and-aft planes of the corresponding needles or equi-distantly spaced. between them.

The welt hook 33 has three bends near its oenter to produce the hump or loop stop In the simplifying the hook, and so disposing.y it relathat when the hook is tilted over to the extreme rear. as at stage M, Fig. 1'1, a safer -clearance is afforded between the welt gar and thel sinker heador' other parts to the rear.

Another instrument taking part` inthe welt operation is the so-called welt rod 35. adapted to be engaged upon the fabric web after the knitting has started and to assist manipulation of the fabric by exerting a frontward pull thereon. as the fabric lengthens with the progress of the knitting.

In further explanation of the diagrams, which show only one of each of instruments 20, 26, 3l and 33, certain arrows indicating the general direction, but not distance, of movement have been applied -in certain. figures to the movable elethe sinker, the knockover, the welt hook, the welt rod. These arrows indicate approximately the movements which the elements have just undergone to reachithe position shown in each figure; for example, the needle has moved downward, the sinker rearward, and the welt hook rearward, in coming to the Fig. 9 position. Further, theiniti'al thread course or series of loopsis designated 3:, while the fabric knitted to constitute the welt is designated y, and the final loop course of the welt, with which the ini- 'tial course is to be combined, is designated z.

one bend. is omitted.

. ward between the .needles and the needles in The various positions or stages shown in sequence are designated respectively as initial position A, shown in Fig. 17, positiony B in Fig. 9, C and D in Figs. 10 and l1, and Eto P in Figs. 10 to 17, sometimes several positions in a single figure, the

series of'movements terminating 'with initial po' sition A. following the last mentioned position P;

thus completing the cycle of' the preferred welt forming-movementsiof this invention.

'lhe welt forming operations may4 be described on the disclosure of the diagrams as follows. Initially the welt ba-r and hooks stand retracted j fullyfrontward as in `position A,"`Fig. 17, the

needles being elevated, the sinkers rearward and the, knockovers inv the position shown in Fig. 9. 'I'hethread-carrierv then lays at least one course of yarn along' behind the bank of needles upon the regular sinkers, which push frontward successively, creating yarn loops, which are then y divided in the usual way, all the sinkers eventually returning to the Fig. 9 position. The *needles then descend to the Fig. 9-position, and

the first course-of loopswrests on .the siners, the

loops engaged in the needle beards. A ith the described laying of the first course'the knitting -used as in narrowing,

of five seconds, suilicient for their elevated position, with new course of loops z thereon. Thus position D is arrived at.

Having knitted the desired length of fabric the knitting must next be Vsuspended for the transfer operations. No yarn is to be laid, but the needles, sinkers and knockovers are to cooperate in the transfen by the welt transfer motion. which as explained may be identical with the narrowing movements of these instruments, enabling the same cams and connections to be the main cam shaft turning at the slow rate the transfer.

Fig. 12 shows position E, throughA which the hooks pass, following position D. Following position In position E-the welt hooks have started to shift rearwardly, so that the initial loop course a: has slid'along the hook4 shank to the shoulder 36. With the continued rearward movement the welt bar and hooks are Simultaneously bodily elevated, and are tilted down at their free rear ends, and

are' then lowered while the tilting continues, as

have retracted rearwardly, the latter cooperating in sustaining the fabric. These transfer movements have occurred with each hook moving inl action will have been stopped, or atleast slowed down -to suspend the knitting motions until the welt hooks have received the iirst loops and retracted. For this hooking-up operation the welt bar and hooks move rearwardly, during which motion they are side-stepped slightly, to the extent of a half loop or needle space, so that-the welt hooks may passbetween'the needles. With this we come to .the position shown in Fig. 9, referred to as position B of the active elements.

Position C is shown'in Fig. 10, the needle bank having swung frontwardly and descended, thus carrying the initial loops from off the sinkers, the welt hooks receiving them, between the 4oi? both needles and hooks between the plane-of its needle, at least as to. position H, such alinement being assisted by the confinement` the knockovers, and later between the sinkers.

The tilting of the welt hooks and bar from positionsE to H is assisted by the pull. of the fabric thereon, as will be clear from Fig. 12.

Fig. 13 shows position I, wherein the sinkers have advanced, now above the fabric and loops. The needles have shifted rearwardly, and thisk has brought their beards into engagement in the grooves of the respective welt hooks. This is a positive action, coupling the needle tothe hook,

and the needle swing is continued until the welt h0oks,.-yieldingl-yv mounted, have even been tilted .substantially by the pressure of the needles, the

welt bar being mounted for such yielding tilt as thus become coupled in a reliable manner for the transfer of the initial loops :e from the hooks to the needles which already carry the final loops z.

Fig. .14 shows position J, wherein both the welt hooks and needles have risen, but the needles further than Vthe hooks. The needles have thus been caused to slide up on the hooks and enter the initial loops held by the welt hooks. During this action the welt hook shoulders hold down the loops as the needles relatively rise. When the hooked type of knockovers is used the hooks thereof act to hold down the loops, as shown; otherwise the sinkers may assist in this action, in

E Fig'. 12 shows also positions F, G and H.

` sinkers and knockovers, and still Vlifted somewhat higher.

Figs. and 15 showposition K, wherein the needles and knockovers have now shifted frontwardly, permitting the welt hooks to swing back from their tiltedto their vertical position H, and

the hooks having been extensively elevated and caused or allowed further to tilt rearwardly by way of commencing their movements of extraction from the transferred loops x.' Fig-15*l shows the criticalpart of this position on an enlarged scale, with each of the initial loops extended between the welt hook and the notch or hook of the knockover. Preferably -an upward tension is maintained on the welt hooks at this stage, by a resilient'lift of the welt bar. The needle beards now occupy the loops, and the tips of the welt hooks stand down slightly below the apexes of the needles, at which level they are to return frontwardly without need-of rising above the needles.

Fig. 16 shows position L wherein the needles havebeen swung slightly rearwardly again, commencing an overlapping movement between the needles and welt hooksf; as the hooks come relatively frontward in the process of their disengagement. Although the two f instruments are working in the same ,fore-and-aft vertical plane this passing movement is feasible on account of the very thin and narrowly tapered character of the extremities of the needle and hook respec-l tively. There will be a slight contact between Vthe two, this motion being illustratedin the enlarged front view Fig. 16, It is not necessary, but in fact would be undesirable, to attempt a bodily side shifting movement of the 4welt bar for this purpose, since it would tend undulyto distend theloops. The passing movements of the two then, according to the described operation, involves a slight contact near the extreme tips of the two instruments, and since these are tapered thinly and have no surfaces that can catch, they readily pass each other with only a very negligible extent o f deection or bending of one or both thereof. Itv is found that it is safe to leave lentirelyto chance the relative passing of the hook and needle endsinthe motions of disengaging the hooks from the loops, and each ofthe hooks may pass either to theA right or left side of its needle, as chance dictates, I

Fig. 17 shows the succeeding'positions M, N, 0 and P, and `iinally the initial position A ofthe welt hooks, with al1 of the 'parts restored, so that continued knitting may be resumed.' In position M the welt hooks have been tilted further back than in position `L, in a 'manner not merely to mechanism and connections for bringing about the described operations. As to the needles 20, sinkers 26 and knockovers 3|, these all have well known automatic motions and cooperation during regular knitting, afforded by regular knitting cams, for which however are substituted a different set of cams to give the different motions and cooperation used during the welt forming, as fully indicated by the`diagrams. As already explained the well known narrowing motions may be substituted and serve for the welt operations. To avoid undue illustration and description the means for causing' such regular motions and the special actuation of these instruments for narrowing or welt forming are wholly omitted herefrom; it being understood that as usual the special movements are afforded by a temporary interchange from the faster regular or knitting cams or pattern control to the special or narrowing cams or pattern control, of slower speed, which latter may ,be readily designed and constructed by a skilled worker in the art from the disclosure herein afforded of the relative movements and timing of these instruments.

AReciting next the preferredY movements of the welt hooks hereof, these are performed by the mechanical manipulation of the welt bar; and the hereinafter following description will disclose fully the fittings or mountings of the welt bar, permitting the necessary movements, andthe preferred actuating mechanism and connections to bring about these movementsin the disclosed sequence, preferably byl automatic timing. To assist a clear comprehension, the welt bar movements will here nrst be recitedand analyzed.

One welt bar movement is the slight'side shifting of'the bar, at the hooking-up stage to bring the hooks' into positions halfway between the vertical fore-and-aft planes of the'needles, and at the later or Atransfer stage their restoration into the needleplanes. This side-stepping into mid-space positions need prevail only during and near positions B and C, wherein they hooks enter f their loop-receiving position between the needles.

The other hook movements may all be and preferably are performed with the hooks in the same planes with the needles: 'I'hese subsequent movements, illustrated particularly by Figs. l2 to 17, may all be performed by three components of movement, first,- the rearward bodily advance of the welt bar and its complementary frontward K retraction, and second the bodily rising and lowering thereof, and thirdly, the bodily tilting of the throw the,hookv ends further frontward, but to y swing the barb end of the hook tohorizontal so that 'it canslide out' of the loop by simple frontward shift. The enlarged view Fig; l'l8L makes this clear. These movements operate'to extract the hooks from the loops,leaving the loops surrounding the needle'beards, ata level between the engaging the hooks ,of the knockovers. In positions N, O, P

z and A the welt hooks are merely rst shifted fur-j ther frontward and then tilted .back to an upright position and swung over aro d frontward luntil resuming fully retracted initial or horizontal front position A. The -welt having thus beenI cominto the next succeeding loop course.

It remains to describe the nttin'gs and actuatinl weltbar and hooks, whichY may be described as anI oscillating movement, by which the posture of the hooks is changed from'one extreme at position E to the opposite extreme at position M and thence back to initial posture at position A.

.These combined motions resemble during ad' vance a'vaulting of the welt hooks over the needle line as a hurdle, with aY different return movement.

Coming next to the general elements of the machine as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and others, the heavy fixed frame extends thefull length of the machine. 2;. It comprises a series of upright cross walls 45 which serve also as bearings for various shafts that are longitudinal to the length of the machine. Among the ilxed lengthwise frame members are the so-called table 46 in the upper central part'of the machine, and various other structural or angle members 41, as well as rods At the up' Il which frequently constitute axles. perrear are brackets for supporting the mountings for a series of earrierrods 50 from which may depend the usual yarn carriers, not shown.

Aseries of high fore-and-aft brackets support certain parts to be described.

The main kcam shaft 53 is at the lower central part of the machine, this carrying a number of cams, as usual, including a cam 54 taking part in the lifting and lowering of the welt bar, and a cam 55taking part in the rearward and frontwardshifting thereof, as will be further referred to. The cam shaft may have controlled drive means for rotating it at a faster speed for the knitting motions, as usual, and a slower speed for the narrowing and welt forming motions as explained. It may be shiftable lengthwise to put into action one or the other set of cams, for the respective motions. The usual hand wheel 51 is on a shaft 58 on brackets near the front of the frame walls 45, and thereabove is located the control rod or shaft 59 on an extension bracket 60.

.The welt bar ,36, Figs. 1, 2, 6'and '1, consists primarily of the usual complementary side parts between which the welt hooks are clamped in parallelism by their Shanks and butts. By the connecting screws 65 the welt .bar parts are rigidly united. At each end beyond lthe series of hooks the bar has attached to it by screws 64 a somewhat enlarged head 66, these heads having a rounded oblong shape, as Fig. 7"'shows, and constituting the means by which the welt bar is mounted and manipulated. The tilting or swinging movements of the bar take place about two lpivot Astuds 68 by which the bar heads are -mounted on the cradle parts 14 of two carriages 15 to be described. This mounting is provided by extension ears 61 one on each head, in each `of whichis secured one of the'pivot studs 68, and the two studs being inaxial alinement, parallel initially in the carriage crad1es1'4, its 'width extending frontwardly' from its axis represented by 'l' the pivot studs 68, while the cam 'fingers 69 andthe hooks extend rearwardly from the axis. In this gure the dotted lines show the welt ba'r and hooks tilted over to their extreme rear position M, in which position the cam fingers depend from the axial stud. The fingers 69 during they rearward movement are adapted to contact the sinker head 28, at its press edge 29, thus camming down the finger and assuring the proper starting of the welt bar tilting action, in case -the other tilting means fails, which is to be described.

The welt bar pivot stud 68 at each side is mounted on the rear end of a rearward extension or cradle 14 of the aforesaid sliding memberor welt bar carriage 15, at that side. The two carriages are arranged to act together, as though united, although necessarily spaced well apart,

as Figs. 2 and 6 show, for the accommodation and operation of other mechanism between them: The two carriages are slidable rearwardly and frontwardly, tha-t is, to the right and left in Figs. 6 and 7, upon the symmetrically opposite pair of rocker members |00, which are fulcrumed at their front ends on an axle |05, as shown inFigs. 1 to 4, said members acting in unison 'as an elevator y to raise and lower the connected carriages and welt bar. The two rocker members, swinging up and down as though united, may be considered as a rockframe. While the rocker members may be to the length of the welt bar, as best shown in Fig. 6.

The several movements of the welt bar may here be further explained. Its tilting or oscillating movements take place about the axis represented by the studs 66. These studs have their bearings in upstanding ears 80 formed with the 'cradle parts 14 of the welt bar carriages 15, one at each side. kThese carriages are shiftable' rearwardly and frontwardly to provide that cornponent to the welt bar. The carriages in turn are mounted on what may be broadly termed an elevator, shown in the form'of a rockframe or rocker members |00, fulcrumed considerably to the front, and capable of rising and lowering movements. to afford that component to the welt bar operations. ments of the welt bar for a half needle space are The slight side-stepping movei cams 54 and 55 on shaft 53.

By way of completing the description of the ."welt bar 38 referenceV is madev of the tapered" extension piece or cam finger 69' at each side. attached rigidly tothe bar head 66, for example being fast on the stud 66. These cam fingers 69 as more clearly shown in Fig.` l extend from the lisis of swinging ma diretion opposite tothe welt bar itself and in the same direction as the welt hooks. Ifhus in Fig. .7 the welt bar rests rigidly interconnected they are more convene.

iently unconnected but are lifted and lowered in unison by means actuated from the main shaft cam 54, as later described.

Each of the carriages 15 slides longitudinally upon its elevating rocker member as a guide, and the construction may be substantially as follows. The ilat body of each carriage overlies the rocker member, and it is mountedup'on a slide or shoe 16 running in a groove or portion of said member. -To this shoeis connected by screws 'I1a a stiffly flexible band or steel strip 11, by which the sliding movementsv of the carriage are effected from front connections to be described. A slight resilient uptilting of the front end of the carriage is desirable, for yield at Acertain times. For this the underside of the carriage vis grooved to accommodate an elevated portion 16 of the shoe 16, best seen in Fig. 8;

while the rear end of the carriage is pivoted by a horizontal pin 15,vsee also Figs. 6 and "l, to the shoe. A headed post 18 stands up from the shoe through'a slot inthe carriage, while a stiff spring 19, compressed between the post head and carriage holds the latter yieldingly down upon the shoe, yfor all normal operations.

When the two carriages 15 are' shifted. in unison, sliding along the parallel rock members |00, and carrying with them telescoping action takes place, the rockframe being effectively lengthened with the rearward shifting of the welt bar and vice versa.- Instead of vmounting the welt bar ends or heads 66 directly upon the carriages theypreferably are mounted upon the aforesaid cradles 14 which are part of -the carriages and extend rearwardly therefrom. Each cradle has an -upstanding ear 60, and these ears constitute the fulcrums for the welt bar pivot studs 68. The cradles are shaped for the welt bar heads to rest normally thereon in initial welt bar position, as best shown in Fig. '1. L

The cradles in turn are connected, each to its carriage, so as to be capable of'relative rearward way cut into the top the welt bar, a sort ol?l movement, preferably resiliently,` against the pull of a restoring spring. Thus, eachcradle is mounted at the rear end of a slide rod or stem 8|,

which passes through a guide onthe carriage in wardly in unison, as between positions D and H,

and return, they carry with them the two cradles and pivoted welt bar. riages are being pulled frontward with the growth of the welt fabric, after position C, the

yield of springs 83 may function to smooth the action. The knitting motions cause jerking and wggling at\the needles, requiring cushioning of4 the frontward pull upon thel fabric. The springs 83 become stretched as they yield for this pull, to be described, and introduce the necessary yield, during the first part of the knitting of the welt,- which yield later on is provided by other means.

In respect to its tiltingmotions also the welt bar is preferably held resiliently in its normal relation to the cradles vand carriages, and is resiliently tilted, for example by the following means. As shown in Figs. 6 and '1 there extends, from each welt bar head a link 81, pulling frontwardly thereon, leftwardly in these figures; and the front end of the link is pivoted to the upper arm of a rocklever 88 which is centrally ful--iy crumed on the cradle 14, its lower arm carrying a stud or roller 89, normally pressed yieldingly rearwardly. This resilient pressing is accomplshed by means of a push bar 90, having a depending rear lug or contact 9| and afront contact ,lug 92. The rear contact 9| normally bears rearwardly against the stud 89. 'I'he bar 90 vis slidable in a groove in the under side of the carriage, and is pulled rearwardly by a spring 93 extending in tension from a post 93a on the bar to a post 93b on the carriage. When the welt bar is tilted over rearwardly by other means the spring93 yields and becomes tensioned, and it -later exerts its pull to restore the parts by reversely tilting the weltbar back to normal, as the carriages return frontwardly, the front contact When however the car-l lug 92 then contacting the front side of the front carriage lug 82, as shown in Figs. 6 and 1.

Each push bar 90 -is preferably positively limited in rearward :movement when the carriage advances fully to the rear, the` latter being shown in an intermediate position in Figs. 2, 6 and '1.

Forthis purpose a stop flange or contact 94 is shown, standing outwardly from a slotted plate 94" screw-attached to the rocker member |00 at each side, Figs. 7 and 8. When the front contact lug 92 of push bar 90vmeets contact 94 the bar ceases rearward shift with the carriage, while the spring .93 becomes distended with further carriage shift.

The tilting movements of the welt bar fromv initial position may be effected by action upon parts.

against the body of the rocker member |00 beneath the angle piece or cover thereof, and is confined by a rear clip 91 and a front clip 91, the latter constituting an eventual stop for the frontward return of front contact lug 92, bar and carriage 15, as Fig. 4 shows. A spring 98 exending between frontI clip 91' and the shank portion 96' pulls frontwardly ,on the shank, permitting rearward yield, while the rear clip 91 forms a limiting stop, contacted by the shank bend *al (Figure 6),'in opposition to the spring.

The contact piece or shoulder 95 stands up in the path of the stud 89 when the carriages and welt bar are shifted rearwardly, so that, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 7 the stud strikes the contact piece or shoulder when reaching a certain point in its movement, at about the same time the stop flange or contact 94 stops the rearward advance of the rear lug 9|. With the continued rearward shifting movement the contact piece or shoulder 95 rocks the rocklever 88, by pulling relatively frontward on it, this acting through the link 81. to swing upwardly and over, tc the dotted line position, the welt bar and connected 'Ihe yield of spring 98 cushions this tilting action, and provides a necessary later yield in the welt bar operations, when other actions cause tilting thereof. The operation of the welt bar tilting connections will be described further below, including the safety action of the cam finger 69 which can give a positive start to the tilting, preferably just in advance of the action of the contact piece or shoulder 95.

Referring next to the rocker members |00, preferably parallel, slidably supporting the carriages 15 and together constituting in eiect a rockframe which may swing up and down during manipulations of the welt bar, these rocker members are shown fulcrumed at their front ends, and having means operating at their rear ends to elevate and lower them in unison. As best shown in'Figs. 4, 6, and 8 the body of each rocker member "is a channel, with top groove in which the carriage shoe 19 slides, While the steel -strip 11 attached to the shoe overlies the two sides of the channel; and is there confined, with sliding fit, by angle pieces 99 overlying the strips, depending at the sides and rigidly attached by screws. Each rocker member at its front end merges into the rim |0| of a circular housing or wheel which has a web |02 extending inwardly to a hub |09 that surrounds'and turns loosely on a bushing on a shaft |05 serving as an axle. See also Fig. 3. Thus'the two rocker members are fulcrumed at the front with the shaft 99 as a center.

For lifting the rear ends of the two rocker members each is provided with an. outwardly projecting roller stud' |01, slee also Figs. l and 7. These studs preferably are mounted not' directly on the rocker member, but on slides or plates |08 adjustably secured to said members, for the accurate` positioning of the studs. The

studs constitute the contacts or cam followersl for the lifting action; and below them are oscillating cams |08. 'Ihe two cams are mounted on a common shaft |09 located near the rear and extending the full length of the machine, and having such a pair of cams at each knitting section. By suitably rocking the shaft |09 the cams will swing upwardly, moving the two rocker members in unison, thus elevating the welt bar, and later lowering it, to accord with the described sequence of operations.

' vice 4||b is included at a l asoaooc When lowered the rocker members may rest upon the cams, or some fixed member, for their initial position. For example, a fixed but adinstable rest H is shown in Fig. 7 for each member |00. Toensure the prompt descent of the rockframe yeach member is shown pulled downward towards its rest H0 by a spring H0'.

The lifting of the rockframe and welt bar may be performed by rocking the shaft |09, which, for example, carries a rockarm to the right of the end frame 45, connected by a drop link H2 with a cam lever H3, Figs. 1 and 2. The lever H3 has a front fulcrum axle H4 and car-- ries a follower |5 adapted to be 4positioned upon the cam 54 of the main shaft -53 for the welt forming operations. In a usual manner the hub of the follower H5 may slide on a stud H5 on lever |3 into and out of operating position, and

this shift may be performed by a shift lever II1 pivoted on the lever ||3, with its free front end engaged by a spring and collar shift means on .a shift rod H0 controlled from a Asuitable timing means or pattern chain during the knitting of a stocking. Thus the camv 54 and follower H5 may be rendered active for the period of the welt transfer operations and then inactive for the completion of the stocking.

'I'he two rocker members |00, lifting and lowering in exact unison, may be considered a rockerated for this purpose in the usual'manner of take-up devices, the details indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The rod ends are laid or-engaged in open hooks 39* each mounted on a fabric-take-up strap 40, which, at the rear passes around the shaft |09 upon a supporting plate 40 mounted on the fixed table 46.; The two front ends of each strap 40 are attached respectively to upperA front and lower rear spools 4| and 45B' mounted respectively on upper front and lower rear shafts 42 and 42. By this arrangement vas one spooltakes up, the otherv lets out, the strap. To compel the spools to turn in unison their-shafts areinterconnected ,byspur gears 43. To afford a-yield in each strap and keep it aut, a stretchable del ped part of its length. In order to give a constant resilient pull frontforward tension is l placed upon the lengthening fabric may be opwardly to tension the fabric the shaft 42 is shown as extended rightwardly to a convenient point at which .it is provided with a .pulley or drum 44, around which is wound av take-upcable 44'-, maintained under constant pulling tension,

for example by passing over an overheadvpulleyf not shown, and thence down to a counterweight A handle and ratchet device 44b is shown for turning the shaft and operating thetake-'up rod manually, or anchoring it at any desired rearward position.

Describing next the mechanism for shifting rearwardly and frontwardly the two steel strips v11. and the welt bar carriages toV which they are fed on the l-rim |20 and normally the clutches are closed' so attached, each of these strips is shown as mountof a wheel. vThe webs |2| -of the two wheels have hubs |22 both mounted fast upon-a sleeve |23 which can turn loosely on the shaft |05, seev Figs. 2, 3 and 4. yNormally these parts are coupled to turn with the shaft |05, which therefore unison. As a means of so clutching each of the two strip'actuating wheel rims |20 to the shaft there is shown a hub |25 fast on the shaft, at each sidefrom which extends outwardly a clutch disk |26 located between the webs`|02 and |2| al. ready described.A Each of the disks |26 has a clutch recess |21, and cooperating with this is a spring dog or plunger |28 mounted on the web recess for clutching purposes. The stem of the spring plunger has an external button |30 which isfianged, the flange having notches |3| cooperable with a small projecting tooth or positioning screw head |32. By this arrangement, when the notches are occupied by the screw heads |32 the clutch elements areengaged, whereas by pulling outwardly on each button and turning it slightly thev plunger may be held inoperative by the screw head, -and the wheel and strip thus unclutched from the shaft |05. This uncoupling is merely to release the steel strips 11 and carriages 415 for manual operation, adjustments etc.; that the wheel rims |20 are in effect both fast on the shaft |05, whereby the turning of the'shaftshifts the two carriages in unison.

y The entire set of parts in each knitting section on shaft |05 is confined on the shaft against endwise movement by means of left and right collars'l33, between which are the two hubs |03, the two hubs |25 and the long sleeve |23. The shaft turns in the series of brackets 5|, as do also the shafts 42, the brackets being mounted upon the frame table 4G. A slight clearance or gap |34 is shown, between one of the collars |33 and a bracket'5i, thus affording slight endwise play of the shaft and parts to an extent approximately, or slightly less than, a needle space, fora purpose to be described.

As explained, during welt forming operations, the turning of the shaft |05 in onev direction or the other vwill effect the simultaneous shiftings of both carriages in every section of the knitting machine, in frontward and rearward longitudinal directions. A restoring arrangement is provided giving a tendency to retract frontwardly the two carriages, 4and this is shown in the form of a cable turns the pulley and shaft counterclockwise in Figs. 1 and 4, rotating the shaft to pull frontwardly the carriages. This pull occurs dur-4 ing the first part of the knitting of the welt, following position C, tensioning the fabric. It is strong enough to stretch somewhat the springs 03 between carriages'15 and cradles 14, so'that these springs cushion and smooth the fabric pullingaction.

` The operative movements of the two carriages however, during. hooking-up and transfer, areK v performed by accurate cam timing, and for this purpose the following connections are shown. Mounted orrthe shaftl I 05 is anspur gear- |40, Figs. 1 and 2, and this is in constant mesh with 'an underneath sliding rack |4|. Thus, by'shifting the rack rearwardly of frontwardlythe desired c arcan move the two carriages in riage and welt bar movements are effected simultaneously in all sections of the machine. A Way |42 is provided for the guidance of the rack, which may rest upon a fixed plate |43. The rack movements are effected through a link |44 extending between the rack and the upper arm |45 of a bell crank lever fulcrumed at |46, its rear arm |41 being loosely connected by a slotted drop link |48 with a cam lever |49 fulcrumed on the axle ||4. The slot allows the lever` to drop relatively, when idle, or when the shaft |05 is under control of the cable |36 and the growing fabric.

The cam lever |49 carries a follower wheel |50l which is slidable upon a stud |5| so that it can be placed in operative relation with the cam 55 on the main cam shaft 53 below, or shifted to l'inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2. To effect such shifting 'there is shown a shift lever |52 fulcrumed on a stud projecting from the cam lever |49, the front end of the shift lever engaging and being controlled in its movements by the shift rod |8 heretofore mentioned.

For causing the accurate slightfside-stepping movements of the welt bar, for example rightwardone half needle space for the loop taking operations, positions B and C, and leftward to bring the hooks into the needle planes for posi tions E to P, or at least H to N, the following plan is preferred. As already explained the shaft |05 has a slight play lengthwise of the machine, represented by the gap |34 adjacent a collar |33, and being preferably equal to or possibly slightly greater than the required extent of welt bar side-shift. The approximate shift by taking up the gap |34 is not of suflicient accuracy to be relied on for the shift of the welt bar between its `two positions, and herein is shown a nner adjustment to exact position, applied independently for each knitting section, ensuring perfect operations in each.

The plan hereof is to use, in each knitting section, a cam device, preferably between a fixed part andthe carriages or welt bar, which effects the necessary side shift with assurance of accuracy. As shown this takes the form of complementary camsor cam faces, thrusting rightward on the rocker members or carriages 15 for one adjustment and leftwardfor the other, thus causing each welt bar to take its respective positions, with the hooks between and in the planes of the needles respectively. `Passive or self-acting cams are preferred, operating by realson of other movements of therocker members or carriages, and locatedat the rear, approximately inline with the welt bar. The thrust may take place by utilizing the gap |34, the shaft and rockframe etc. merely sliding along the length of shaft |05 to the extent of the gap, and

the self-acting `or cam device then acting to cause the final exact adjustment. The provision each section carries a leftward facing cam or plate |60, shown screwed to the left or outer side of the minor area or patch in the form of a wedge or l cam. surface |62 or |63, in a slightly offset or raised plane. The two cam plates cooperate, being complementary; and thus the two cam surfaces |62 and |63 are differently located on their respective plates, each cooperating with the general or low area of the other member.

Cooperating with the left carriage cam plate |60 is a fixed-position contact member, or cam follower, in the form of a roller |64, on a frame bracket |65, and so positioned that the roller may act on the cam surface |62 of plate |60 as the carriage moves rearward at a low level, during hooking-up, as in Figs. 6 to 8, thus to thrust the carriage and Welt bar rightward. The parts still stand leftward as the cam plate has not yet reached the roller |64. Similarly at the right is a contact roller |66 on a fixed bracket |61, so that when later the carriages move rearwardly at a high level, during transfer, the roller acts on the cam surface |63 of the right hand cam plate |6| to thrust leftward the carriage and welt bar. In each case when either cam surface |62 or |63 is active on its roller, the roller at the other side runs on the general area of its cam plate. As the cam plates may be very accurately machined, and the rollers exactly located, the positioning of the Welt bar is exactly performed, and in each operation its position is positively determined, independently in each knitting section.

At positionsB and C the rockframe, carriages and welt bar are at a low level. The right cam surface |63 is inoperative, as in Figs. 6 to 8, but

the left cam surface |62 meets the roller |64 before the hooks reach the needles, thus onsetting the hooks to enter safely midway between the needles. A preferred plan is that the shaft |05 and connected parts and welt bar normally stand at the leftward adjustment, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the gap |34 at the right; but this is not necessary, since if the parts should be at a midway position, the cam surface |62 will merely deliver a shift of only one quarter of a needle space. Later, for positions H to N, when the rock frame has beenA lifted, t'he cam surface 62 becomes inoperative because higher than its roller |64, but the cam surface |63 comes int'o level with its roller |66, so that at this part of the operations the welt bar is adjusted leftward, to the correct extent, for the hooks to move wholly in the planes of the respective needles.

The two camA plates |60 and |6I, while both open cams, face oppositely, namely from each other, and towards their rollers, and they are therefore inv effect a closed cam; and manifestly one of the two could be dispensed with, if some equivalent means be employed' to hold, for example the cam surface |62 of the Yplate i60, in contact with its roller |64, such as a'spring, or other resilience, operating to take up slack by leftward thrust. Greater reliability however is afforded, anda more open andfaccessiblestructure, by the disclosed arrangement', the left cam plate causing rightward thrust for the mid-space positioning of the welt bar and hooks, and the right cam plate the leftward thrust for positioning them in the needle planes. Each knitting section has its separate individual adjusting means, while the slight endwise slip of shaft |05 and carried parts operates the same for all of the sections. No special actuation is necessary for such shaft movement, since the cam plates of purpose `A convenient auxiliary. attachmentY for han-l diagrams.

-ment operates to take up the slack indicated by dung the wert rods is of au knitting sections is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 operable aboutthe time,

between positions C vand D, when the welt bar 38 has retracted with fabric to the full extent of its frontwar'd movement, corresponding to the initial frontward carriage position of position A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. To save the separate manual placing of a welt rod in each of the multiple knitting sections the following means is shown. Each section has a spring clip or rodholder at each'end .of the rod 39 in an idle position, shown in Fig. 1. Each clip is on a carrying arm |1|, normally resting in, frontward swing position. Each arm is swingable over and back to operative position, partly'shown in Fig. 5, being attached to a rock shaft |12 for this purpose. The same rockshaft carries all the arms |1|, throughout lthe length of the knitting machine, and may be operated, as manually, from any point in its length, for example, by a handle or Wheel, not shown.v After the knitting of the welts has started the shaft |12 is turned, manually or automatically, bringing the two clips or holders |10 and welt rod in each section over and down to the position shown in Fig. 5. Here it may bear down upon the fabric, preferably with a spring to pull it down, until it comes into the path of frontward retraction of the hooks 39*I on the tensioning straps 40. In their frontward movements, as the fabric lengthens, the

hooks 39 thus engage the rod Sends, still held in the clips or holders |10. The continuedlfrontward .pull causes the rod to snap out of the clips or holders and cooperate with the straps 40. Thus this time consuming operation is readily and expeditiously performed.

The general operationmay now be reviewed, with reference both to the diagrams showing successive positions, and to the mechanism, more especially as shown in Figs. 6, 'I and 8. The op- -eration will be described more particularly with .regard to the mechanical actions. upon Vthe welt bar 30,v giving it the slight side-stepping movethe gap |34 between collar |33 on the shaft |05 and adjacent bracket 5|. If the gap should not v be suflicient the thrust may then strain slightly the intermediate parts, or take up other play,v

so that the rightward thrust terminates with the roller |64 upon the cam surface |62. These parts having been machined with precise accuracy, it follows that the positioning of the welt bar for the initial taking of loops, is 4exactly performed. As the cam plate |60 with its surface |62 is an open cam it is herein arranged that the thrust of the parts can not exceed'the desired movement, and this is brought about by the engagement of the righthand 'contact roller |66 upon the general area or surface of the right'- hand cam plate |6|. Fig. 8 well shows how the two carriagesA 15, 15, bridged by the welt bar, are

I eral area of the righthand cam plate; and it may now be seen that later on, when the carriages are at a higher level the opposite positive action will take place, the cam surface |63 at the right then cooperating with the contact roller |66 while the roller |64 at the left runs on the general area of ythe lefthand cam plate, thus positively positioning the carriages and welt bai-'with the welt hooks exactly in the planes of the respective needles.

.The next step brings the parts to position C,

as previously explained, a frontward shift of the needles slipping the loc-ps olf from the sinkers and on to the welt hooks. The welt bar is then drawn resiliently frontward, holding -the loop course, while the knitting of the welt proceeds.

It will b e understood that the cam 55 at this stage releases its connections to thecarriages and welt bar, due to the slot in link |48, so that they are fr ee to be moved forward, the tension cable |36 now coming into play to turn'resiliently the shaft |05 in a direction to give the frontward tension to the lengthening fabric, continuing until the carriages come to a stop at'their most frontward lifting and lowering, and the bodily tilting; all

of these taking part in the motions shown inthe Following initial position A, ,and after anliniltial loop course :n has been laid, the welt bar-38 and its carriages 15 are moved farrearwardly,

bringing the hooks to position B. This rearward l movement is effected with the rockframe,.car

,slide frontwardlythe rack |4| and thus turn the 'shaft los and with it the two wheels |20, ,im a. direction to thrust rearwardly the two steel strips 11, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4,' these, at their rearward ends, being connected to the carriages 15 upon the cradles 14 of which the welt bar is resiliently mounted.

During the advancing rearward movement of carriagesand welt bar, the cam surface |62 of cam plate |60, on the lefthand carriage, comes into play, being at the same level with its fixedposition roller |64, see Figs. 6' and 8, so that before-the parts reachtheir rearmost position Bin this section, the cam surface causes a rightward thrust on the carriage and welt bar, proper to position the welt hooks between the planes of the needles. This rightward y.thrust or adjust-4 position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Before this time the welt rodV 39 is laid in upon the fabric and hitched tothe tension straps, for example by the clips or holders |10 already described, so that the pull thereof on the welt fabric may replace the pull exerted through the weltbar, as a continued length of welt fabric is knitted, until the full de- `sired length is attained. Thiscarries the operation to position D,l atl which the'fast or knitting motion or cycle of operation is suspended.

When the Working or knitting cycle is thus interrupted, at the conclusion of knitting the welt, the changes are made to transform the action to the already described welt-transferring motion or cycle, which may be the same as the well-known. narrowing cycle or action so far as regards the movements of needles, sinkers and "knockovers, thus obviating the need of a third kind of cycle. This shift involves alengthwise shift ofthe mainvcam'shaft 53, and its slowing down from say sixty to 'twelve turns per minute, a new fset of operating cams coming into play to work the needles, sinkers and knockovers; and at this time the controlled rod ||6 is shifted to render-operative the special cams 54 and 55 on the shaft 53, which cams afford the necessary weltbar movements, as described, fortake place during a single rotation of the cam` shaft.

For the transfer operations the welt bar advances rearwardly again. 'I'he weltbar and hooks may move rearwardly from position D as far as position E without either rise or tilt: but duringlthe continued rearward advance the otherv to the relatively fixed stop ange or contact 94, terminating the'rearward motion of the push bar. The roller 89 on rocklever 88 has come into substantial contactv with the contact piece or shoulder 95 on the yielding shank 96, slidable on .the rocker member |00. The welt bar oscilber permits it to yield as necessary when the welt bar is subjected to subsequent reverse tilting movement by the action o f the needles, for instance at position I, wherein the needles have lation thereupon, having left the-controlo! lug or contact 9|, comes under control of the contact piece or shoulder 95, assisted by the cam finger 69, which by this time is substantially in contac with the press-edge 29.

The weltbar tilting movements result vfrom the further rearward movement of the parts, beyond position E, which movement also brings about the side-stepping of the welt bar to bring the hooks into the planes of the needles. 'I'he accompanying lift of the rockframe, consisting of the rocker members |00 and carriages 16, is

' caused by cams |08 on shaft |09, under main#w shaft control; the extent of lift being clear by comparing the full 'line and dotted line positions `in Fig. 7. This lift is sumcient to raise the cam surface 63 onthe'righthand cam plate |6| up to the level of the contact roller |66, rendering the cam surface |63 operative; at the same time raising the lefthand cam surface |62 'above its roller.|64, rendering the cam surface inoperative at that side. This rise takes place before the cam plates reach their'contact rollers, so that during the continued rearward movement the carriages and weltbar will be thrust leftwardly intoexact position, as already explained, for the welt hooks to move thereafter in the planes of the needles. 'I'he cam surface |68 may be of short horizontal length as shown, since the contact roller need not pass oiI from its front shoulder. The cam surface is of substantial vertical width, permitting minor lifting or lowering movements, to change the level of the welt bar as indicatedl in the diagrams between posi'- tions F and' M. These lifting and lowering move? ments conform with the diagram positions and are dependent on the contour of the cam 64,

which Vmay be designed accordingly.

` tions F, G etc. The position of the parts at stage `E having been described, the tilting movements 'therebeyond `may be described as follows.. As the carriages and welt bar. move rearwardly the contact piece or shoulder 95 exerts a/frontward pressure on the stud 88, which operates through rocklever 88 and link 81 to tilt upwardly and rearwardly the welt bar about ,its pivot studsy 88.

About the same time. or preferably slightly in dles.

pressed rearwardly 'on the hooks, the needle beards in the grooves of the hooks, thus tilting the hooks and welt bar in amanner to stretch the spring 98 which draws the Contact piece or shoulder 95 toward its normal position. 'I'he needles are' now coupled to the welt `hooks and the parts vare in readiness for the actual loop transfer. s

At this point in the action the hooks rise slightly, but the needles to a further extent, to position J, the needles thus accurately entering the initial loops a: on the hooks. 'I'he fabric and loops were held down, not merely by the welt hook shoulders, but by the knockover hooks which, at position'I, had come frontwardly to engage the fabric and yarn. Without such knockovers the loops could still beheld down by the sinkers. The first'stage of transfer has thus been accomplished. Now, through the loops, which engage both the hooks and needles, the needles continue to control the tilting movements ofthe hooks, the frontward shift' of the needles to position K tilting the hooks in the manner shown, against the resistance `of spring 98. In 'the meanwhile the welt bar and hooks have been lifted extensively by cams |08 to position K, so that the hook` ends of the hooks are now brought up to the loops which surroundvthe hook shrinks. 'I'he lift is applied to some'excess so that the carriages 15 have to tilt or heel-up on their shoes 16, tensioning thesprings 19, and thus maintaining a desirable upwar tension on the loops x, stretched `between the welt hooks and the hooks of the knockovers. At position L the'needl'es have againmoved slightly rearward, within the-loops extending between the welt hooks and theknockovers, the needle beards occupying the loops.

The movements of extracting the hooks from the loops and fabrics may now commence. The weltbar is now shifted rearwardly tov its rear limit, this action also tilting the hooks over to their limit of tilting movement, as shown in position M of Figs. 17 and 17, shown also in dotted lines in Fig. '7. The tensionv of the fabric cooporates with thethrust of contact piece or shoulder 96 in this action. It should be noted that in Ythis and "subsequent movements the loops, while held at length, are not unduly distended or strained, since the tips of the welt hooks are never lifted as high as the apexes of the nee- Although thehooks are working in the planes "of the needles they are able to pass through to the front in the manner indicated 4in Fig'. 16, which is a greatly exaggerated ,front view; The tips and apexes are quite thin and are rounded, so that there is no difficulty in the hook tips brushing-past theineedle apexes, with very slightv deflection, and Vwithout conflict or damage.

thus progressively tiltedvover inthe manner indicated by positions F, G and H. The hooks are thus brought to the vertical position H, having been hurdled over the tops of the needles and brought down vertically behind them, in preparation for loop transfer.

'I'he :resilient mounting of the shankrof the contact piece or shoulder 8l on the rocker mem- The described movement from position L to position M carries `the hook tips partway beyond the needle apexes. The bent extremity of each lhook is substantially horizontal. From position `commencement of thisl retraction the contact piece 96 operates, as Fig.' 7 shows, to hold the planes of the needles.

weltbar in its extremely back-tilted position, but this influence continues only for the short extent of travel between theA dotted` and full line' positions of contact piece or shoulder 95 in Fig. '1, it being stopped by lclip Slat' its full line position. During the remainder of the frontward retraction the tilting comes again under the control of the rear lug orcontactl 9| of the push bar 90, which thereupon acts through the parts 99, 98

and 8,1 to restore progressively the welt bar and hooks through their positions O and P to initial position A.

Means are provided to ensure that the weltbar will tilt to its initial position, resting in the cradle in the manner shown in Fig. 7, full lines. If this were prevented dueto failure or weakness of spring 93 acting through lug or contact 9| and rocklever 88, or due to binding action anywhere it wouldint'erfere with the hookingup action on the next knitted stocking. This is taken care of by the front contact lug 92 coming against the front clip 91B on each of the big rocklevers |00, which ensures the complete rearward shift of the pushbar in its carriage and the restoration of the weltbar to initial position. The action is positive. The clips 91a in factde-v termined the final position of frontward retraction of the carriages, as Fig. 4 plainly shows, the contact lugs 92 being confined between the clips and the carriages. The welt forming parts remain in this, or position A, until, after the product is completed, they must come again into action as at position B for the start of the next Y product.

There have thus been described a method and a means for the forming of welts in straight.

knitting machines which embody the principles of the present `invention and attain;the'objects thereof; and since various matters of operation, combination, arrangement and form x'nay be modified without departing from the novel principles, it is not intended to limit the invention thereto except to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1 For forming welts in a flat knitting machinejeach knitting section of which has its needle bank and cooperating instruments, the

combination therewith of a weltbar having a bank of welt hooks, carriages on which the weltbar is mounted to receive tilting movements or oscillation in reverse directions, carriers or rock-A levers on which the carriages are mounted to receive advancing Aand retracting movements, said carriers being mounted to receive lifting and lowering movements,` and an vadjusting or cam 2. 'I'he combination as -in claim 1 and wherein the side-step adjusting means for the weltbar is caused to operate-by reason of the advancing movement of the carriages.

3. Thev combination asin claim 1 and wherein the side-step adjusting means for the weltbar is and. reverse movements of. the weltbar first, for

receiving initial loops from the needles and later for transferring such loops back to the needles, substantially in the manner disclosed.

5. The, combination as in claim 1 and wherein are automatic or self-acting connections for causing thesaid tilting, advancing and lifting and reverse movements of the weltbar first, 'for receiving initial loops from the needles and later for transferring such loops back to the needles, substantially inthe manner disclosed; and self-actingconnections for causing the side-step adjusting means to position the weltbar suitably for such loop receiving and transferring operations respectively.

6. For forming welts in a at knitting machine each 4knitting section' of which has its needle bank and cooperating instruments, the' combination therewith of a weltbar having a bank of welt hooks; carriages on which the weltbar is mounted to receive bodily tilting movements in reverse directions, an elevator or weltfrz-.me on which the carriages are slidably mounted to receive rearward advancing and frontward retracting movements, said elevator being swingingly mounted to receive lifting and lowering movements there by to lift and lower the carriages and weltbar, and a weltbar lateral adjusting .means in each knitting section operable to side-step the weltbar during the loop-receiving stage of Welt formation for adjusting the welt hooks into midspace positions between the needle planes, and to sidestep reversely the weltbar during -the loop-transferring stage for adjusting the welt hooks into the planes of the needles. l

7. The combination as in claim l6 and wherein the swinging elevator comprises side arms forming ways for the sliding of the carriages, with front fulcrum, and having means to swing up and down the rear ends of the arms, consisting in a lifter actuated in timed coordination with the other movements. Y v

8. For forming welts in a fiat knitting machine each knitting section of .which has its needle bank and cooperating instruments, the combi? nation therewithof a weltbar having a bank of f welt hooks, carriages on -whicnthe weltbar is mountedto receive bodily tilting movements inl reverse directions over the needles,l a swinging elevator or; rockframe on which-the carriages are slidably mounted to receive rearward advancing and frontward retracting movements, said elevator having side arms constituting carriage guides, with front ulcrums, and means to cause lifting and lowering movements thereby to lift` and lower the carriages and weltbar, and means for sliding said carriages in unison rearwardly and frontwardly upon said arms.

9. The combination asin claim 8 and wherein the carriage sliding means comprises one or more stiiiiy flexible strips or springs, having their rear ends connected to the carriages and their front ends passing around wheels. or segments, and

,their intermediate portions confined to a given to oscillate said wheels to move the carriages,

caused to operate-,byreason of the advancing 7o shift ofthe weltbar through -a Az :am-and-follower device,l one element of which isinexact fixed weltbar ora carriage.

position and the other element connectedtothe` 10. The combination as in claim 8 and wherein both wheels are fast on a rockshaft which is rocked to move the carriages; said rockshaft constituting also the axle or fulcrum for said rockframe side'arms.

needle bank and cooperating instruments, the combination therewith of a weltbar having a bank of welt hooks, carriages on which the weltbar is mounted to receive bodily` tilting movements in,

reverse directions, an elevator or weltframe on which the carriages are mounted to receive rearward advancing and frontward retracting movements, said elevator being mounted to receive lifting and lowering movements thereby to lift and lower the carriages and weltbar,and a weltbar side-stepping means in each knitting section operable to cause minute shifting vof the weltbarl endwise of itself for" adjusting the welt hooks into a first or midspace position between the bank of 'welt hooks, carriages on which the ends of the Weltbar are pivoted adapting the weltbar to receive bodilytilting movements, an elevator or/rockframe on which the carriages are movably mounted to shift rearwardly and frontwardly, timed means to cause lifting and lowering elevator movements thereby to lift and lower 'the carriages and-weltl bar, timed means for shifting said carriages in unison'rearwardly and frontwardly upon said elevator thereby to shift the weltbar accordingly, and timed means for tilting the Weltbar on its carriages during its needle Vplanes at an earlier stage, and at a later' stage to shift reversely the weltbar for adjusting the welt hooks into a second position in the planes of the needles. y

12. The combination as in claim 11 and wherein the side-stepping means comprises complemental cam and follower devices operating by reason of th rearward and frontward movements of carriages andA weltbfr.

13. The combination as in claim 11 and wherein the side-stepping means comprises complemental cam and follower devices operating b y reason 'of the rearward and frontward movements of carriages and weltbar, so arranged that when the elevator and carriages are at a low level at the earlier stage the first device acts to thrust the" weltbar to its first endwise position, and when ata high level at the ilater stage the second device acts to thrust the weltbar to its' second position.

14. For forming welts in a flat knitting machine each knitting section of which has its bank of needles and cooperating instruments, the combination therewith of a weltbarhaving` a for moving the supporting member to receive movements towards and away from the needles and lifting and lowering movements relatively to the needles, means mounting the weltbar on the supporting member to receive bodily tilting movements in reverse directions overthe needles in coordination with said other movements, and f mechanism operating to tilt the welt bar during,- and by reason of, the movements ofthe supporting member towards and 'away from the needles, said mechanism comprising a rocklever on said member .and connected to the welt bar, a contact acting on the rocklever to tilt the welt bar .assembled andv relatively arranged,` to deliver tilting movements substantially as described.

16." I'he combination of claim 14 and wherein is a supplemental welt bar tilting means comy prisinga cam finger arranged 01' `he welt bar for' movement therewith, and a contact disposed Y [in the path of the welt bar when moving towards f the needles, whereby said finger during movelment of the welt bar' towards the needles will engage the contact causing said finger and welt'- bar t'o tilt.

' 17. For forming welts in a fiatknitting machine each knitting section of which has its needlev bank and cooperating instruments.. the combination therewith or a weltbar having a -bank of welt hooks, a supporting member, means other movements. f

18. The combination as in claim 17 and where- .in the elevator is a rockframe with front fulcrum and rear means to swing it up and down.

19. The combination as in claim 17 and wherein the means for tilting the weltbar is a selfacting means operating by reason of the movements of the carriages.

20. The combination as in claim 1'7and wherein uis a weltbar side-stepping means in-each knittlng section, each thereof having connections operating to shift the weltbar endwise of its length to bring the Welt hooks into needle plane positions for welt transfer and into mid-plane positions for initial hooking up of loops.

21. 'I'he combination as in claim 17 and wherein is a weltbar side-stepping means in each knitting section, each thereof having connections operating to shift the rweltbar endwise of its length to bring the welt hooks into needle plane positions for welt transfer and into mid-plane positions for initial hooking up of loops; such side-stepping means comprising a self-acting device -acting upon a carriage by reason of the shift of the carriage.

22. The combination as in claim 17 and wherein isl a front means for retracting `frontwardly the carriages an'd weltbar while said carriageshifting means is idle during the knitting of the welt, and a cushion or spring device included in the connections between said front retracting means and the weltbar to smooth the retraction thereof.

23. In forming-"welts in a flat knitting machine, each knittingsection of which has its bank ofv needles and cooperating instruments, the combination therewith of `a welt bar having a bank of welt hooks,`carriages on which the welt bar is mounted to receive bodily tilting movements in reverse directions and an elevator on" which the carriages arewmounted'to receive movements towards and away from the needles. said elevator being mounted to receive lifting and lowering movements thereby to lift and lower the carriages and welt bar, a welt bar sidestepping in each knitting section operable to cause minute shifting of the welt bar endwise of itself Lfor `adjusting the welt hooks into a first position between the needle planes at an earlier stage, and at a later stage to shift reversely the welt bar for adjusting the welt hooks into a second position in the planes of the needles, said side-stepping 'means comprising complemental cam and follower devices operating by reason of the movements of the carriages and welt bar towards the needles and being so arranged that when the elevator andcarriages are at a low level at the earlier stage, the first device acts to thrust thewelt bar to its rst endwise position, and

`when at a high level at ,the later stage, the second device acts to thrust' the welt bar to its second position, each cam and follower device including a cam plate on a carriage and. a nxed follower, each cam plate having a general face and a camsurface so arranged at different'levels that when one follower engages the cam surface of its cam plate, the other follower engages the general area of its cam plate, thus positively positioning the carriages and welt b ar endwise at each stage of operation.

24. The method of forming a stocking welt by means of a-welt bar having welt hooks on a nat knitting machine provided with va bank of bearded needles and cooperating instrumentalities, comprising: knitting a series of initial welt f fabric loops on said needles with the aid of said cooperating instrumentalities; actuating the welt bar to impart to the welt hooks a rst movement towards the needles; guiding the welt bar inv said first movement toward the needles 'for so positioning the hooks in relation to the needles that said hooks will pass between the needles 'to engage the initial loops thereon; knitting the body of the welt fabric 'on said needles with the aid of the cooperating instrumentalities; actuating the welt bar to move the welt hooks away from the needles after engaging the initial loops and accordingly draw the welt fabric being knitted; actuating the welt bar following the.

formation of the final loops of the welt fabric to impart to the welt hooks a second movement towards the needles and, simultaneously therewith, actuating the welt bar to impart to the welt hooks a lifting movement whereby to turn the welt fabric and bring the welt hooks on a plane above the needles; actuating the welt bar to move the welt hooks during said second movement towards the needles and said lifting movement to align the welt hooks with the needles; actuating the weltbar to cause the welt hooks ltovault over the needles and become positioned in substantial parallel relation to the beard side of the needles preparatory to the transferto the initial loops back onto the needles; actuating the welt bar to move the welt hooks in coaction with the motion of the needles and cooperating instrumentalities. for bringing the initial loops under tension between said instrumentalities and welt hooks for the engagement of said loops by the needles; actuating the welt bar to move the welt hooks for forcing the ends thereof past the needles on the plain side thereof and thus disengaging the initial loops in e'ngagement'with the needles; actuating the welt bar to move the welt hooks out of the knitting eld; kand then knitting a series of loops to unite the initial and nal loops of the weltgfab'ric.

25. In a multi-section knitting machine hav'- ing welt forming mechanism, a device for laying welt rods on the fabrics inthe several knitting sections comprising: welt rod retaining spring means within each knitting section adapted to' engage the welt rod for use therein and movable,

to operative position for suspending said welt rod over the 'corresponding fabric; and supporting and positioning means for said welt rod retaning spring means and including a member extending throughout the several knitting s'ections for moving all of said welt rod retaining 4spring means simultaneously to operative posi- .26. `In a multi-section knitting machine having welt forming mechanism, the combination with tensioning hook carrying straps mounted' in each knitting section for travel therein, of Aa device for laying vwelt rods on the fabrics in the several knitting sections comprising; welt rod retaining spring means within each knitting sectherein and movable to operative position for suspending said welt rod over the corresponding `fabricin the path of the hooks on the travelling straps, whereby said hooks may snap the associated welt rod out of its retaining spring means; and supporting and positioning means for said welt rod retaining spring means and including a member extending throughout the several knit-` ting sections for moving all of said welt rod retaining means simultaneously' to operative position. i

27. Anautomatic welt turning attachment comprising, in combination with a bankof bearded knitting needles and cooperating instrumentalities in a f lat knitting machine; awelt bar having welt hooks; means operable for. actuating the welt bar to impart to the welt hooks a rst movement towards the needles; means operable 'to guide the welt bar in said rst movement towards the needles whereby to so position the welt hooks in relation to the needles that said hooks will pass between the needles to engage the initial loops thereon; means operable to actuate the welt bar for moving the welt hooks away from the needles after engaging the initial loops and accordingly drawing the welt fabric being knitted on said needles with the aid of the copoerating instrumentalities; means operable to actuate the welt .bar following the formation of the final loops of the weltfabric'for imparting to the welt hooks a second movement towards the needles and,`

, fer of the initial loops back onto-the needles;

means operable to actuate thewelt bar for moving the welt hooks in coaction with the motion of the needles and cooperating instrumentalities to bring the initial loops under tension Vbetween said instrumentalities and welt hooks for the engagement of the loops by the needles; means operable to actuate the welt bar for moving the welt hooks whereby to force the ends of the latter past the plain side ofthe needles and thus disengage the .initial loops in` engagement with the needles; and means operable to acutate the 'welt bar for moving .the welt hooks out of the knitting ileld.

28. In a nat knitting machine, the combination with the main cam shaft land the bank of bearded needles operated thereby: of av bank of welt hooks; mechanismA operating to move said bank of welt hooks in a combined rectilinear path towards the needles and a curvilinear path over the needles to bringY the welt hooks into engagement with the bearded side of Jsaid needles; and means operatively connecting said mechanism to the main cam shaft whereby said mechanism is. operated in ltimed relation with the operation of said bank of needles.

29. In a flat knitting machine, the combina-- tion with the main cam shaft and the bank of -bearded needles operated; thereby: of a, bank` of welt hooks; mechanism operating to move said bank of welt hooks in a combined continuous rectilinear horizontal path towards the needles and a curvilinear' vertical path over and behind the needles on the bearded side thereof; and

means operatively connecting said mechanism to the main cam shaft whereby said mechanism is operated in timed relation with the operation of said bank of needles.

30. In a fiat knitting machine, the combination with the main cam shaft and the bank oi" bearded needles actuated thereby: of a bank of welt hooks; mechanism operable to actuate said welt hooks in a combined rectilinear path ton wards said needles and a curvilinear path over the needles to bring the welt hooks into engagement with the bearded side of said needles; and cam means on the main cam shaft for operating said mechanism to actuate the welt hooks in timed relation with the actuation of said needles by the main cam shaft.

31. In a flat knitting machine, the combina tion with the main cam shaft and the bank of bearded needles actuated thereby: of a bank of welt hooks; mechanism operable to actuate said welt hooks in a combined continuous rectilinear horizontal path towards said needles and a curvilinear vertical path over and behind the needles on the bearded side thereof; and cam means on the main cam shaft for operating said mechanism to actuate the welt hooks in timed relation withthe actuation of said needles by the main cam shaft.

82. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with the main cam shaft, the bank of bearded needles, a set of knitting cams on the main cam shaft to actuate said needles during the knitting cycle of the machine, and a set of narrowing cams on the main cam shaft to actuate said needles during the narrowing cycle of the machine: of ,a bank ofwelt hooks; a mechanism operable to actuate said welt hooks-in a combined rectilinear path towards the needles and a curvilinear path to bring the welt hooks into engagement with the lbearded side of said needles; andl cam means-on the main cam shaft for operating said 4mechanism to actuate the welt hooks in timed relation with the actuation of said needles during the narrowing cycle of the machine by said set of narrowing 'cams on said main Y cam shaft.

curvilinear` path over and behind the needles on the bearded side-thereof; yand cam means on the 'main cam shaft for' operating said mechanism to actuate the ywelt hooks 'in timed relation with the actuation of said needles during the r`narrow ingcycle of the machine lby said lset of narrowing cams on said main cam shaft.

34. In a nat knitting machine having a bank.

of bearded nee'dles and a main cam shaft for actu I ating said needles', a welt forming attachment comprising: .a bank fof welt hooks; mechanism operatively associated with'said hooks to actuate the same in a rectilinear path towards'said needles and in `a1 curvilinear path to bring the welt hooks intel engagementwith the bearded 'side' of said needles; and cani means onthe main cam operatively assoclatedlwith Vsaid mechanism aaeaooo l for operating the same to actuate the welt hooks in timed relation withv the actuation of said needles by the main cam shaft.

35. In a flat knitting machine having a bank of bearded needles and a main cam shaft for actuating said needles, a welt forming attachment comprising: a bank of welt hooks; mechanism operatively associated with saidhooks to actuate the same in a rectilinear path towards said needles and in a curvilinear path over and behind said needles on the bearded side thereof; and

Ycam means on the main cam shaft operatively f engagement with the bearded side of said needles in timed relation with the actuation of said needles by the main cam shaft.

37. In a flatknitting machine having a bank of bearded needles and a main cam shaft for actuating said needles,.a welt forming attachment comprising: a vbank oi' welt hooks; and

mechanism operatively associated with the main` relation with the actuation of said needles by the main cam shaft.

38. In a flat knitting machine, a needle bar having a bank of bearded needles; a main cam shaft controlling the actuation of said needles; a'welt bar having welt hooks adapted for cooperation withV the needles on the needle bar; mechanism operable to actuate the welt bar in a rectilinear motion towards the needles and in a curvilinear motion to bring the welt hooks on the welt bar into engagement with the bearded side of the needles on the needle bar; and means establishing a direct connection between the main camshaft and said mechanism for operating the latter to actuate the welt bar in vtimed relation with the actuation of the needle bar.

39. In a nat-knitting machine, a needle bar having a bank of bearded needles; a main cam shaft controlling theY actuation of said needles:

a welt bar having welt hooks adapted for rcooperation with the needleson the needle bar; mechanism operable to actuate the welt bar in a rectilinear motion towardsthe needles and in a curvilinear motion over and behind said needles on the bearded side thereof; and means estab lishing a direct connection between the main cam shaft and said mechanism for operating the latterto actuate the welt -bar .in timed relation with the actuation of the needle bar.

40. In a.l ilat knitting machine, a needlebarA having a ibankv ofbearded needles; a main cam shaft; cam means on said shaft for actuating said needle bar; a welt barhaving welt hooks adaptedv for cooperation with the needles of the needle bar; mechanism operable to actuate the welt bar in a rectilinear motiontowards the needles of the needle: bar and ina curvilinear motion tobring the welt hooks on the welt bar into engagementv With the bearded side of the needles on the neecilel bar; and other cam means on the main cam shaft, said other cam means being operatively associated with said mechanism and acting thereon for operating the same to actuate the welt bar in timed relation with the actuation of the needle bar by said first mentioned cam means on the main cam shaft.

41. In a flat knitting machine, a needle bar having a bank of bearded needles; a main cam shaft; cam means on said shaft for actuating said needle bar; -a welt bar having welt hooks adapted for-cooperation with the needles of the needle bar; mechanism operable to actuate the welt bar in a rectilinear motion towards the needles of the needle b'ar and in a curvilinear motion over and behind said needles on the bearded side thereof and other cam means on the main cam shaft, said other means being operatively associated with said mechanism and acting thereon for operating the same to actuatev the welt bar in timed relation with the actuation of the needle bar by' said first mentioned cam means on the main cam shaft.

42.`In combination with the bank o'f'needles and main cam shaft of a fiat knitting machine: a welt bar having a bank of welt hooks; carriers on which the welt bar is mounted to receive bodily tilting movements in reverse directions over the needles; swinging arms on which the carriers are slidablymounted to receive sliding movements towards and away from the needles.

said arms being mounted to 'receive lifting and v lowering movements; means operated by the main cam shaft to cause lifting and lowering movements of the arms whereby to lift and lower the carriers of the' welt bar; andmeans also operated b'ythe main cam shaft for sliding the carriers in unison upon said arms.

'43. In combination with the bank of bearded needles of a fiat knitting machine, a welt turning mechanism comprising: a welt bar; carrier devices.onefor each end of the welt bar; and mechanism operable fo-r positive action on the welt bar carrierdevices for positively moving the welt barv in a rectilinear path towards and away from the needles during and for the picking-up phase of the initial course of loops and the knitting of the welt fabric on the knitting machine, .and for kpositively moving the welt bar in a horizontal side-step land `curvilinear motion towards and behind the needles to engage said hooks with the bearded side of the needles for Yand during the Y transfer phase of the initial course of loops ofV the welt.

44. In a flat knitting machine having a .plurality of knitting sections and provided with a main cam shaft: a welt bar for each, knitting section having a bank of welt hooks; carriers on which the welt bars are mounted to receive tilting movements in reverse directions; supports on which the carriers are mounted to receive sliding movements towards and away from the needles. said supports being mounted to receive lifting and-lowering movements; mechanism operated by the main cam shaft for sliding the carriers l on their supports towards the needles; mechanism also operated by the main 'cam shaft for lifting and lowering said supports; and means in each knitting section of the knitting machine operable to side-step the welt .bar during the loop receiving stage of the welt formation for adjusting the welt hooks in mid space positions between the needle planes, and to-side-stcp reversely the .welt bar during the 'loop delivering stage for adjusting the welt hooks into the planes of the needles. 4

45. In combination with the bank of needles in each. knitting section, and the main cam shaft of a flat knitting machine'. a welt bar for each lifting and lowering movements; mechanism operated by the' main cam shaft for sliding the carriers on their 'supports towards the needles: mechanism also operated by the main cam shaft for lifting and lowering said supports; andfwelt bar laterally adjusting means in each'knitting section of the knitting machine operable to sidestep the Welt bar during the loop receiving stage of the welt formation fcr adjusting the welt hooks in mid space positions between the needle planes. and to side-step reversely the welt bar during the. loop delivering stage for adjusting the -welt hooks into the planes of the needles.

46. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with the main cam shaft and a bank of needles operated therebyr'cf a bank of welt hooks; mechanism operating to move said bank of welt hooks in a horizontal rectilinear path towards and away from the needles; means cofunctioning with said mechanism'for moving-the welt hooks in a -curvilinear path over and behind the needles as a continuation of the movement iny a horizontal rectilinear path and, simultaneously therewith,

variably changing the angular relationship of the hooks with the needles; and means operatively connecting said mechanism and means to the main cam shaft whereby said mechanism and means are operated in timed relation with the operation of said bank of needles.

47. In a at knitting machine, the combination with the ,main cam shaft and a bank ofbearded needles operated thereby: of a bank of Vwelt hooks; mechanism operating to move said bank of welt hooks in a horizontal rectilinear path towards and away from the needles; means cofunctioning with said mechanism for moving the welt hooksin a curvilinear path over and behind the needles as a continuation of the movement in a horizontal rectilinear path and, simultaneously therewith, variably changing the angular relationship ofthe hooks with the needles;l and cam means on the main cam shaft for operating said mechanism and means to actuate the welt hooks in timed relation with the operation of said needles by the main cam shaft.

48.A In a flat knitting machine, the combination with the main camshaft and the bank of bearded needles operated thereby: of a'bank of welt hooks adapted to engage and remove loops from the needles and subsequently returnlsaid loops to the needles; mechanism operating to move said welt rectilinear path towards the needles and curvilinear path over and behind lthe needles to position the welt hooks on the bearded side of the needles thereby returning the loops to the needles, then in a curvilinear path behind the nee4 dles towards the bearded side thereof to disenvgage said hooks from the loops returned on the needles, then in a reverse curvilinear Path over the needles to place the disengaged welt,hooks. 1n front of said needles, and nally in a recti-r. 

